Half to frederick a



(No Model) S. E. HIGLEY.

KEEL BLOCK.

No. 583,113. Pat ented- May 25, 1897.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL EDWVARD HIGLEY, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGN OR OF ONE- HALF TO FREDERICK A. VERDON OF SAME PLACE.

KEEL-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 583,113, dated May 25, 1897.

Application filed January 27, 1897. Serial No. 620,972. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL EDWARD HIG- LEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Keel-Blocks, of which the following is a full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to keel-blocks for vessels; and the object thereof is to provide improved devices of this class by means of which a vessel may be safely docked and the keel thereof firmly supported at all points.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by the same numerals of reference throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the bottom of a dock and the method of applying my improvement; Fig. 2, a side view of my improved keel-blocks, and Fig. 3 a plan view thereof.

In the drawin forming part of this specification I have shown at 5 a part of the bottom of a dock which is provided with transverse plates 6, any desired number of which may be employed, and in the practice of my invention I mount on each of these transverse plates two Wedge-shaped blocks 7 and 8.

The wedge-shaped blocks 7 and 8 are similar in length and form, and one is placed upon the other, the smaller ends thereof bein g turned in opposite directions, and secured to each side of each of these blocks is a rod 9, each of which is provided with inwardly-directed ends 10, by which connection with the block is made and by means of which the rods 9 are set out from said block, and these rods are connected by clamps or bands 11, which are open at one side, as shown at 12, and the clamps or bands 11 are free to move on the rods 9.

The upper wedge-shaped block '7 is prefer ably provided at each end with loops 13, which constitute handles, and these handles may be of any desired form, and the bottom may also be provided with handles, if desired. The operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the following statement thereof.

It will be understood that the blocks are placed together, one above the other, as shown in the drawings, and the rods 9 connected by the clamps 11, and these blocks, when con nected in the manner described, are placed directly beneath the keel of the vessel, and by sliding the top block along the lower one, as will be readily understood, said blocks may be caused to form an even and positive support for the keel of the vessel.

The blocks may be moved by hand or by means of a hammer, and the keel of the vessel may be keyed up, as will be readily un-' derstood, at any desired point or at all points where the blocks are placed.

My improved keel-blocks are simple in construction and operation and well adapted to accomplish the result for which they are intended, and it is evident that changes in and modifications of the construction herein described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The herein-described keel -block, the same consisting of two separate wedge-shaped blocks, one of which is placed above the other, the pointed ends of said wedge-shaped blocks being in opposite directions, and each of said blocks being provided at its opposite sides with rods, which are secured thereto, said wedge-shaped blocks being connected by sliding clamps which are mounted on said rods at each side of said wed ge-shaped blocks, substantially as shown and described.

2. The herein-described keel-block, comprising two wed ge-shaped blocks, each of said blocks being provided at each side thereof 5 with a rod having inwardly-directed ends adapted to engage said blocks and hold the said rods free therefrom, said rods being parallel with the inclined edge of said blocks, myinvcntion I have signed my nan1c,in presand provided with clamps which are free to once of the subscribing witnesses, this @5111 slide thereon and hold said blocks together, day of January, 1897.

said blocks being provided with loops at the SAMUEL EDXVARD HIGLEY. 5 ends thereof, substantially as and for the Vitnesses:

purpose set forth. 0. GERST,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as L. M. MULLER. 

